William Bernard Mercer was pulled over by a state trooper early Sunday morning and eventually arrested and charged with DUI and possession of drug-related objects.
Back in late May, Mercer, 52, was arrested at the Comfort Suites after wrecking a hotel room. He was charged with public indecency, public drunkenness, false imprisonment and battery.
Mercer “was passed out in the hallway with his pants pulled all the way down” in front of Room 101 when officers arrived. Officers then interviewed the victim, whose shirt was bloodied. The victim relayed to officers that she and Mercer initially went swimming in the hotel pool before returning to Mercer’s room. At some point, Mercer became “enraged” after the victim told him that “they were just friends and she did not want to have sex.” The victim said that this is when Mercer began “hitting her and refusing to let her leave the room,” according to the incident report.
He bonded out two days later.
Mercer spent most of 2025 in state prison following a sexual battery conviction in Jones County.
In other Milledgeville Police Departmentnews:
• There was a dispute between a cashier and a customer at Wing Master on Roberson Mill Road, the old Huddle House, and arrest warrants ultimately were issued for both. A manager called 911 and relayed to the dispatcher that “someone walked into the Wing Master and had an attitude.” An officer arrived, and the cashier was identified as Ladasia Russell. Russell told the officer that the customer said, among other things, “why the (expletive) do you have an attitude,” and “(expletive), take my order,” as well as threatening to “snatch her little (expletive) across the counter.”
An officer arrived, and the customer was identified as Collette Taylor.
Russell added that Taylor tried to hit her with a menu and a vase. The officer later reviewed restaurant security footage, complete with audio. Taylor was not “aggressive or aggravated” when she walked into the restaurant, according to the officer’s narrative.
Added the narrative: “While Taylor is walking up to Russell register you can hear Russell tell Taylor why you have an attitude, and Taylor stated I don’t, y’all do.” However, Taylor did eventually become aggressive and indeed threw several menus at Russell. In turn, however, Russell threw a cup of ice tea on Taylor. At this point is when Taylor picked up the aforementioned vase and threw it across the counter, missing the target and hitting the wall. Taylor is being charged with simple battery, pertaining to the menus and the vase, while Russell also is being charged with simple battery, pertaining to the sweet tea. Taylor also was charged with criminal trespass.
• Roderick Smith, Jr., 37, was charged with felony terroristic threats and acts after reportedly threatening to kill his father.
• Someone stole a sour grape Four Loko from the Tiger Mart on West Hancock Street.
In Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office news:
• A deputy responded to Rocky Creek Park “in reference to an intoxicated individual attempting to fight people.
Ultimately arrested and charged with public drunkenness was Samantha Leigh Dixon, 33, listed with an Ivey address. Dixon was laying down on the sidewalk and yelling when the deputy arrived, according to the incident report. Added the deputy’s narrative in the incident report: “Dixon struggled to stand on her own or even sit up straight on the ground, I noticed several marks and cuts on her feet where she had fallen prior to my arrival.”
• Thefts, burglaries and/or entering autos were reported in the 1250 block of Dunlap Road, the 1695 block of Pine Valley Road, the Red Dot Inn (two incidents), Cobblestone Park Drive (two incidents), the Hampton Inn (two incidents), the 240 block of Lake Drive, the Economy Inn and the 730 block of West Montgomery Street.